Diwali Rangolis

Rangoli is the traditional art of decorating courtyards and walls of Indian houses, places of worship and sometimes eating-places as well. It is also known as Alpana, Kolam etc .The ingredients used to draw rangolis are white stone, lime, rice flour and other paste.

The tradition of Rangolis
Rangoli is used from the early days as an expression of warm hospitality.People uused to beautify their houses with colourful rangolis.The tradition is still popular. In particular, the Diwali festival is widely celebrated with rangolis.It is used in Diwali decoration.

Significance of Rangolis Rangolis are a symbol of auspiciousness. It is believed that during Laxmi Puja, the Goddess Laxmi actually enters the household .The geometrical patterns & designs applied with rice flour at the entrance to a home, invites Goddess lakshmi into the household, and drives away the evil spirits. It is also created to please her, in the hope that she may bless the house and to ensure that she stays for the full year.

The other reason for using rice flour is that we are providing food for the ants & other small insects. Diwali is also a time when friends and relatives visit each other's houses. So rangolis are also used to give them a warm welcome.

Rangoli Ingredients
Powdered colors are used on cleaned floors to form decorations. The powder primarily consisting of rice flour is ground very fine. In these days finely ground white stone powder is used, for this is easier to apply & also the rangolis are brighter & well finished. Even if ground stone powder is used, one could mix rice flour in it. The powder is usually applied 'freehand' by letting it run from the gap formed by pinching the thumb and the forefinger. Rangolis can be vivid, three-dimensional art complete with shadings or they can be the traditional plain, yet as beautiful as, two-dimensional designs.